Nothing quite marks the end of the working week like perching at a bar and sipping a few cocktails. That’s why, when the prestigious LPM Restaurant & Bar in Mayfair kindly invited us to try their recently launched experiential cocktail menu ‘Recipes for our Friends,’ it was an offer we couldn’t refuse.
Tucked away in a quiet mews behind Claridge’s, LPM Restaurant & Bar, or La Petit Maison, is the restaurant’s flagship location (others can be found in Dubai, Miami, Abu Dhabi, Hong Kong and Riyadh). This London location recently extended to feature a stunning new seafood and cocktail bar – and it’s a worthy upgrade. LPM Restaurant & Bar is truly a charming, effortlessly elegant destination, whether it’s for a lavish lunch, celebratory dinner or intimate drink.
The cocktail experience, expertly created in celebration of the life of legendary French artist, writer and bon-vivant Jean Cocteau, was poignantly debuted on the anniversary of Cocteau’s death. It consists of no less than twelve eclectic, innovative and delicate cocktails which draw on his history, infamous friendships, beloved hideaways and fantastical yet childlike works of art. It’s a suitably lavish, luxurious affair – the hardest part is which cocktail to choose first.
Each cocktail educates guests by bringing to life ‘La Belle Époque’ through key moments in Cocteau’s life. As we are seated at the bar, we are presented with a joyfully vibrant red menu resembling a notebook. Leafing through its delicate pages to select your cocktails feels as though you’re reading a private diary or memoir, unveiling Cocteau’s memories and innermost thoughts, which only adds to the feeling of intimacy and authenticity that this new menu evokes so brilliantly.
I began with the elegant ‘Lettre à Coco’, representing the special friendship between Cocteau and Coco Chanel, a vodka-based cocktail elevated with Champagne cordial, jasmine, bergamot and rose. Much to our surprise, and delight, this is delivered with a personal note spritzed with perfume (no guesses needed as to which) to reflect the notes of the drink. The light, fragrant scents charm you before you’ve even taken a sip.
The ‘Beauty and the Beast’ (a nod to Cocteau’s most celebrated cinematic masterpiece), crafted with Grey Goose, Saint German, Yellow Chartreuse, strawberry & fennel, is a work of art to look at. A delicate, pink pantone cocktail served with a fresh strawberry encased in the most impressive ice cube we’d ever seen. Alongside the gentle, elegant flavour notes, the presentation was a stand-out feature of the new menu.
Each drink was presented with thoughtful additions and mesmerising, crowd—pleasing extra touches. My partner’s cocktail ‘Trinity’ was served in a ‘floating glass’ which actually levitated. Our drinks were complimented with fresh crusty bread, some seriously smooth olive oil (which I’d have enjoyed equally poured over ice), salty, rich olive tapenade and a creamy butter bean hummus.
If you didn’t have The Riviera Room on your must-visit cocktail bar list, you absolutely should. On your next visit, do make sure to seek out the talents of mixologist and barman Hakeem, who makes quite possibly the best cocktails I’ve ever tasted, all with a touch of showmanship and class.
To discover more, visit: lpmrestaurants.com/london
All imagery courtesy of LPM.
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